By Ijaz Ahmad Khan
TORONTO: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the 15 finalists for the IOC Climate Action Awards 2025. The awards celebrate innovative projects across the Olympic Movement that are taking tangible steps towards tackling climate change and driving sustainability in sport. The winners will be announced in the run up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The list of 15 finalists is made up of five representatives from each of the following categories: Olympic and Paralympic athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs). The awards recognise and reward initiatives that deliver measurable impact in reducing the environmental impact of sport while inspiring and educating others to take meaningful climate action.
“As the impacts of climate change touch every corner of the world, sport has a unique power to inspire collaboration and mobilise action,” said Marie Sallois, the IOC’s Corporate and Sustainable Development Director. “We are thrilled to see the momentum generated by the IOC Climate Action Awards – which are now in their third year – and by the growing level of engagement across the Olympic Movement. The quality of this year’s projects truly reflects our commitment to creating a more sustainable future – not only for sport, but for society as a whole.”
The awards are supported by Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Deloitte, Jennifer Steinmann, Deloitte Global Sustainability Business Leader, said: “Sustainability is a catalyst for innovation, and in recognising this year’s finalists, we see how these creative and data-driven initiatives can lead to new opportunities for sports organisations to evolve and build resilience. Deloitte is proud to once again support the IOC Climate Action Awards and to help scale solutions that have the potential to make lasting impact, both within and beyond the Olympic Movement.”
This year’s finalists are: In the athlete category
Rhydian Cowley, Athletics, Australia – Rhydian advocates for climate action by supporting the development of climate action plans with national sports organisations, including Athletics Australia, the State Institute of Sport and the Victorian Institute of Sport, contributing to reductions in emissions and plastic use. His work has been recognised with awards such as the BBC Green Sports Award (2024) and the IOC P&G Athletes for Good Grant (2023).
Hugo Inglis, Hockey, New Zealand – Hugo is a co-founder of “High Impact Athletes” (HIA), a movement that directs athlete funding towards evidence-based, systemic climate solutions. HIA supports organisations that advance the technologies and policies needed to decarbonise the sectors most responsible for sport’s emissions – aviation, energy and infrastructure. To date, HIA has mobilised over 240 athletes to channel more than USD 2 million to carefully selected charities, driving meaningful, positive change in global health, animal welfare and climate action.
Oliver Scholfield, Hockey, Canada – Oliver co-founded “Racing to Zero”, a non-profit sustainability consultancy that supports sports organisations and events in understanding and reducing their environmental impact. The consultancy measures greenhouse gas emissions, provides tracking tools, and delivers tailored solutions such as sustainability strategies and emission reduction plans. It has worked with organisations and events such as Canada Artistic Swimming, Cycling Canada, Freestyle Canada and the Canada Games.
Gabrielle Smith, Rowing, Canada – Gabrielle leads the “Rising Tides” project, which focuses on improving water quality and cleaning Canada’s waterways. Since 2024, the project has removed 335 kilograms of underwater waste and secured more than CAD 15,000 in grant funding. In addition to this, in partnership with the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, Gabrielle supports accessibility for visually impaired children from low-income communities and has funded educational field trips for 200 students.
Kevin Wekesa, Rugby Sevens, Kenya – Kevin promotes eco-conscious behaviour in sport through “Play Green”. By providing aluminium bottles to the men’s and women’s national teams, Play Green cuts down on about 144 single-use plastic bottles each training session, saving nearly 1,000 bottles every week. Additionally, Kevin has collaborated with 40 schools to date in Kenya, providing mentorship and workshops on sustainability in sport. Through this programme, children have put their climate education into action and helped to plant 2,300 trees.
In the NOC category. British Olympic Association (BOA) – The BOA is working to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 through measures such as the use of sustainable transport options, including trains and hybrid and electric vehicle.
Edited by Sumayyah Ahmad
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